The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

PM's tough message to Aussie males

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has demanded Australian men pull their head in on domestic violence and bad attitudes towards women.

"Fathers have got to say to sons that it's just not on to raise your hand against a woman," he said after a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments in Sydney heard from special task force members Rosie Batty and Ken Lay on Thursday.

"Mates have got to say to mates that it's just not on to raise your hand against a woman, or to tell that appalling sexist joke."

Mr Abbott was appalled by survey findings that 25 per cent of young men thought it was acceptable in some circumstances to use violence against women.

"What is required here is a change of heart by men in particular," he said.

"The one place where people ought to feel absolutely safe is their home."